Tamron has announced their newest lens, the 24-40mm f/2.8 Di III VXD zoom for full-frame Sony E-Mount cameras. The “category-disrupting” description is Tamron’s, by the way, not mine, although it is a pretty unique set of focal lengths for a full-frame lens. Tamron says that it’s designed for shooting both stills and video and incorporates their VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive) autofocus drive system for silence and speed.

They also say that the 20-40mm f/2.8 is the new “standard zoom” and is ideal as a general walkaround lens for capturing your everyday life as well as covering a range of different photography types such as food, portraits and landscapes – as it goes a little wider than your typical “standard” zoom that starts at 24mm.

The Tamron 20-40mm f/2.8 Di III VXD is constructed of 12 elements in 11 groups with four LD (Low Dispersion), two GM (Glass Moulded Aspherical) and one Hybrid Aspherical lens elements for maximum sharpness across the zoom range with “beautifully soft defocus blur effects” promising circular bokeh that is “unique to the fast f/2.8 aperture”. It has a zoom throw of 65°, allowing you to quickly rack from minimum to maximum focal lengths and is fully compatible with Sony autofocus features like Eye AF.

The VXD linear motor drive system, Tamron says, offers high-speed, high-precision autofocus, allowing the lens to respond quickly to the needs of the user all the way from the minimum focus distance to infinity. The VXD autofocus system is also extremely quiet, allowing it to be used for video in situations where silent operation is required. The lens comes with the usual petal lens hood and lens cap.

The Tamron 20-40mm f/2.8 Di III VXD is available to pre-order now for $699 and begins shipping in late October.